Crescendo Biologics appoints Dr Kevin Johnson as chairman
pharmafile | November 17, 2015 | Appointment | Research and Development |
Crescendo Biologics, the drug discovery and developer of Humabody VH therapeutics, has announced the appointment of Dr Kevin Johnson as non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors. The appointment is effective immediately.
Dr Johnson brings 27 years of antibody development experience, notably as ex-CTO of Cambridge Antibody Technology and ex-CEO of Pangenetics (acquired by Abbott in 2009). Since 2003, he has been on the Life Sciences team of Index Ventures, focusing on drug development companies.
Crescendo recently launched a new strategy in oncology drug discovery and development. Following the appointment of Dr Peter Pack as new CEO, Dr Johnson’s new position as Chairman marks another step in the Company’s repositioning.
Crescendo’s rapidly growing pipeline is based on its Humabody VH Technology. Humabodies combine the format of human VHs with minimal size with the power of transgenic mouse technology – the gold standard in antibody therapeutics development – which confers the substantial benefits of in vivo maturation.
As a result, says Crescendo, Humabodies have excellent potency and druggability including superior CMC properties for drug development. They are 100% human and represent the smallest possible immunoglobulins offering a range of plug and play options for generating novel multi-specific biologics. Crescendo therefore believes that Humabodies are set to establish a valuable new class of therapeutics.
“Kevin is a highly seasoned executive to head up our Board of Directors as we move the focus of the Company into the field of Oncology” said Dr Peter Pack, CEO of Crescendo. “His past experience is very relevant – from Cambridge Antibody Technologies where he was responsible for its antibody platform technologies to Pangenetics which specialised in taking antibodies from the late research stage through to clinical proof of concept. His input has already proved instrumental to the planning of our new strategy.”
Dr Johnson, the newly appointed chairman, comments: “Crescendo Biologics has a very promising pipeline in development based on its unique Humabodies™ platform. The Company is at an exciting inflection point, expanding its oncology pipeline by targeting a range of cancer indications with its multi-specific checkpoint modulators and its Humabody™ Drug Conjugates.”
Graziano Seghezzi, non-executive director of Crescendo Biologics, adds: “Kevin’s long-standing interest and experience of drug and antibody development and his expertise in the antibody arena is going to be crucial to us as we grow. On behalf of the Board, I welcome him and look forward to working closely together.”
